Ecological Walk of the West River

On Saturday, we joined with the New Haven Bioregional Group for an ecological walk along the West River in New Haven in celebration of National Estuaries Day! We had a great turnout of about 30 local residents and elected officials who walked from the Duck Pond in Edgewood Park down Marginal Drive to the newly installed self-regulating tide gates just south of Route 1.

Walkers, led by Save the Sound’s Curt Johnson and John Champion, viewed firsthand the ecological changes in the West River that have occurred since we completed our West River Tidal Marsh Restoration Project in June.

Here are a few great photos from the event courtesy of Maria Tupper of the New Haven Bioregional Group:

New raised walkway constructed at the Edgewood Park Duck Pond as part of the West River Tidal Marsh Restoration Project.

Save the Sound’s Curt Johnson standing on the new pedestrian bridge by the Duck Pond.

Save the Sound’s John Champion speaks to walkers in front of the new pedestrian bridge.

Participants of the ecological walk cross the new pedestrian bridge.

A man fishing in the West River.

State Senator Martin Looney, State Representative Patricia Dillon, State Representative Lonnie Reed and Curt Johnson at the press conference after the walk.

The three new self-regulating tide gates in the West River.

Here is the statement we put out on Saturday after the walk:

The ecological improvements we’ve witnessed in the three short months since completing the West River Tidal Restoration Project have been astounding, said Curt Johnson, program director for CFE/Save the Sound. For the first time in years, we are seeing improved water quality and large numbers of fish like menhaden and bluefish using the river above the tide gates. These drastic changes wouldn’t have been possible without NOAA’s funding support. It is essential that the Congress works to ensure that these funds are available to ensure we leverage state dollars, create local engineering and construction jobs, and protect our region’s greatest treasure, Long Island Sound.

As part of the West River Tidal Marsh Restoration Project, Save the Sound coordinated the retrofit of three timber tide gates across the West River with self-regulating tide gates to restore tidal flow, improve fish passage, and increase species diversity in the river. Additionally, Save the Sound coordinated improvements to the Edgewood Park Duck Pond, including the construction of a raised walkway to ensure continued public access to the pond.